What is Talmud Tweets?

What is Talmud Tweets? A short, personal take on a page of Talmud - every day!

For several years now, I have been following the tradition of "Daf Yomi" - reading a set page of Talmud daily. With the start of a new 7 1/2 year cycle, I thought I would share a taste of what the Talmud offers, with a bit of personal commentary included. The idea is not to give a scholarly explanation. Rather, it is for those new to Talmud to give a little taste - a tweet, as it were - of the richness of this text and dialogue it contains. The Talmud is a window into a style of thinking as well as the world as it changed over the centuries of its compilation.

These are not literal "tweets" - I don't limit myself to 140 characters. Rather, these are intended to be short, quick takes - focusing in on one part of a much richer discussion. Hopefully, I will pique your interest. As Hillel says: "Go and study it!" (Shabbat 31a)

Friday, August 3, 2012

Berachot 2 - The Love of Questions


The 13th Cycle Begins!

Here is one of the things I love about Jewish study: everything starts with a question. The Talmud reading begins with a question. Actually, the mishnah begins with a question. The gemara (commentary) begins with a question about that question. Actually, two questions about that first question. And so it goes. No statements of ideology or dogma, and most people expect from a religious text. Rather the mind opens to investigation and doubt. How do you know what you know and what if you are mistaken? Prove it yourself and prove yourself. Welcome to the world of Talmud.
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